From time to time in my work I come across a new level of bizarre behavior on the part of lenders. I have previously written about how it never made sense to me that banks with mortgages or credit card companies would not work with their customers to try and work something out. It always seemed to be more logical for the bank/credit card company to get a deal which would give … [Read more...] about Foreclosure Insanity Reaches New Heights
Gen. McChrystal Says He Will Need 500,000 Troops Over Five Years in Afghanistan
That is the bombshell (you should pardon the pun) that Andrea Mitchell dropped on Morning Joe today. That number, by the way, is not in the unclassified version of the McChrystal report that was leaked to Bob Woodward. It's in the complete, unredacted, classified report --- according to Tom Andrews at The Huffington Post, Mitchell got it from "an independent source": … [Read more...] about Gen. McChrystal Says He Will Need 500,000 Troops Over Five Years in Afghanistan
Dangers of Dating a President’s Daughter
On Letterman Monday night, President Obama joked about his daughters' future dates who may be stressed out over having men with guns hanging around. If he really wants to know about that, I can tell him what happened when Lynda Bird Johnson was working for me at McCalls, and I went to dinner at Trader Vic's in New York with our company's chairman of the board. As we were … [Read more...] about Dangers of Dating a President’s Daughter
A Little Pick Me Up
Just a little pick me up for your afternoon … [Read more...] about A Little Pick Me Up
Campaign Free Speech For Corporations—Why Not?
The Supreme Court is now cogitating over a case involving corporations and free speech that many people worry could lead to a dramatic change in our political system. Specifically, that so much corporate money might soon flow into elections that it will have a disastrous effect on who gets elected and whose interests elected officials will really represent. I think such … [Read more...] about Campaign Free Speech For Corporations—Why Not?
Showing Real Class
I can't really think of any way I could improve on the original story so I'll just leave you with the link to read it. But this kind of classy behavior makes you feel a little better about your day. Link … [Read more...] about Showing Real Class
Sometimes the Status Quo Is Good News
Glenn Greenwald has an interesting -- and, in my opinion, astute -- take on the Obama administration's announcement that it will not seek new legislation from Congress to place indefinite preventive detention within a Constitutional legal framework, but rather will rely on the Bushian argument that the post-9/11 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) constitutes … [Read more...] about Sometimes the Status Quo Is Good News
Taking Warnings Seriously
Guest post by Jessie Daniels Jessie Daniels is a principal of the Truman National Security Project and is currently an independent writer living in New York City. Most recently, she conducted research on future security challenges and multilateral response at the International Peace Institute in New York. Prior to that, she worked for four years as a national security … [Read more...] about Taking Warnings Seriously
Editor’s Note and The Ailing American Newspaper
Over the next seven days I'll either be posting a lot less or posting off and on with several days totally off. The reason: I'm on a major trip, driving through the American West and Northwest. Some drives between major stops entail 1100 mile drives. Sunday through Wed I will drive more than 1200 miles total during three days, ending with an appointment in LA, then driving 3 … [Read more...] about Editor’s Note and The Ailing American Newspaper
Dancing the Tango with The Hammer
Full Disclosure: I didn't like Tom DeLay when he was in politics, I don't like him now, and I probably will never like the man. Sorry! Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I do have a disclaimer: I am not an expert when it comes to dancing. And a caveat: This post contains some satire. If I think of some other proviso, disclaimer, etc., I'll let you … [Read more...] about Dancing the Tango with The Hammer
It Will Soon Be Time For A New New-Deal
First of all, I want to say I'm very glad that unemployment benefits are being (temporarily) extended yet again. I was afraid that with that the recession being "over," there would be political pressure (or laziness) not to, and this bill helps hundreds of thousands of people who were about to see their income dry up. It is crazy to think that many people are about to run … [Read more...] about It Will Soon Be Time For A New New-Deal
Spitting Nails Over Indefinite Detention
One of the negative effects of changes in national security policy during the Bush administration was the advent of "indefinite detention" as a way of handling potentially dangerous terrorists. (Or, in some cases, people who were picked up for being in the wrong place at the wrong time with a name having too many vowels in it.) Out on the campaign trail last year, one of the … [Read more...] about Spitting Nails Over Indefinite Detention
What is the difference between socialism and modern liberalism?
So I just laid out in another post the classically liberal origins of modern liberalism and now a regular commenter at TMV has asked, perceptively, how is modern liberalism different from socialism. Surely socialism also has roots in classical liberalism too, so the common ancestry is of little meaning on its own. So what is the difference between socialism and modern … [Read more...] about What is the difference between socialism and modern liberalism?
Is Extremism Becoming Mainstream?
TPMDC's Eric Kleefeld summarizes findings in a new national survey from Public Policy Polling: The poll found that only 59% of voters believe that President Obama was born in the United States, with 23% saying he was not, and 18% undecided. Among Republicans only, a 42% Birther plurality say he was not born here, 37% say he was, and 22% are undecided. As for the left, check … [Read more...] about Is Extremism Becoming Mainstream?
Charity Begins With Charities (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- If the uninsured can't count on the do-gooders to help them, where else can they turn? The question arises because certain leaders of the sector of our society devoted to civic endeavors moved this week to block a perfectly reasonable way of raising some money to extend health coverage to those who don't have it. At issue is a proposal by a number … [Read more...] about Charity Begins With Charities (Guest Voice)
Obama Overexposed? CNN Poll Says No
In the course of two days, President Barack Obama appeared on a slew of network Sunday interview programs and on Late Night With David Letterman -- begging the question of whether a network would soon offer him his own daily show (bet it won't be Fox). And raising the issue among TV-cable talking heads, new media pundits, talk show hosts and bloggers: Is Obama overexposing … [Read more...] about Obama Overexposed? CNN Poll Says No
Gadhafi Addresses The U.N.
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Gadhafi Addresses The U.N.
Senator Kirk (D-MA) Seems Likely
Now that the Massachusetts legislature has passed the revisions in the law it is looking very likely that the new Senator will be former DNC official Paul Kirk. Governor Patrick still has to do some paperwork to allow him to make the appointment now but that is a mere formality. Update: Kirk has been appointed. … [Read more...] about Senator Kirk (D-MA) Seems Likely
Reclaiming “liberty” for liberals
As I teach my students on a regular basis, modern liberalism and classical liberalism are two different ideologies. Classical liberalism, rooted in John Locke's natural rights theory - all men are created with the right to life, liberty and property - is more akin to modern libertarianism than it is to modern liberalism. So, how did modern liberalism evolve? Does it have … [Read more...] about Reclaiming “liberty” for liberals
ACORN Sues, Frank Condemns
ACORN has sued the activists who caught various ACORN workers seemingly supporting the importation of underage sex slaves. While I long ago gave up on the idea that the people running this group were smart, this is mind bogglingly stupid. If, as in this case, you sue based on reputation then you are basically opening up all of your records to review by the attorneys for the … [Read more...] about ACORN Sues, Frank Condemns